Chapter 30

Disclaimer: We still own nothing but a reformed Doucheward who is becoming rather Swoonward.

To all of you who continue to add our story to your alerts, faves and communities…THANKS! A special thanks to our pre-readers Jasper's Woman, L, Jiff Simpson, Luee Fishes.

Chapter Songs:

"Second Chance" Shinedown
"Bleed Red" Ronnie Dunn

BPOV

As soon as we pulled into the Forks city limits, a part of me wanted to crouch down and hide in the cab of the truck. I didn't want to see him- my father. I reached up and rubbed my eye. While it had healed, the memory of him hitting me had not. I hadn't cared that he had meant to hit Edward instead. What Charlie did was unforgivable. Charlie going postal at Emily's funeral because Edward and I were together again was unforgivable.

Sensing my worry, Edward rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand.

"Don't think about it, Bella," Edward told me.

"I'm trying not to. It's just still hard to wrap my head around everyone's reactions the last time we were here," I said softly.

"Bella, my dad has talked to him a few times, but he refuses to even go fishing with him unless he grows the fuck up," Jacob added.

"Your dad did not tell Charlie that?" I questioned.

"I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't been there to hear it myself," Jacob laughed, and I couldn't help but join in.

"Jacob, I am really thankful for you and Billy standing up for Edward and me. It means a lot," I said.

"To both of us," Edward added with a grin, and he squeezed my hand.

"Bella, it's as clear as day that you're both happy and in a very healthy relationship. I remember how you were when we first met. You aren't that person, and I don't think there is a way you ever could be again. You are happier than I have ever seen you, and I know that Emily would be as glad to see you and Edward making your relationship work the right way this time around."

I reached over and hugged him. "I am happy, Jacob, and I have faith that one day soon someone will surprise you and make you just as happy. I know that it's too soon, but Emily would definitely not want you to spend the rest of your life alone. When the time is right, Emily will send you someone who will knock you off your feet."

"Hope springs eternal, Bells," Jake said as he turned into Esme's driveway. We were barely out of the truck when Esme rushed down the steps to meet us.

"Welcome home," she said as she hugged Edward and then me. I had to admit to myself that I missed having a parent around. Esme might not be my official parent, but she was definitely there if Edward or I needed anything at all.

"Thanks so much for inviting us, Esme. I'm really excited about helping you make dinner," I said, while Edward and Jake grabbed our luggage from the truck bed. I took my bags from Jake. "We'll see you and Billy on Thursday, right?"

"Nothing could keep us away, Bells," Jake said as he hugged me goodbye. "Give me a call if you get bored hanging out with all these women, Edward. We can always take my dad out fishing or watch some football games on the tube."

"Thanks for the offer, man," Edward replied. "I may have to take you up on it."

"Edward Cullen, that's not a nice thing to say about your mother or your girlfriend," Esme scolded.

"I wasn't talking about that, Mom. I love you and Bella both and love spending time with you. I just thought taking Billy fishing might be a nice thing to do, since he hasn't gone as often as he would like to lately. How about tomorrow or Tuesday, Jake? After that I have a feeling my twin will be hogging most of my time," Edward asked.

"The sooner the better, Edward. Dad has been driving me crazy the last couple of days, but I'll check with him when I get home and text you later," Jake said.

"Great, thanks for the invite, Jake," Edward told him.

"Thank you, to you and your family, for inviting us for dinner on Thursday. See you both later," Jake said with a wave as he left.

"It will be so nice to have so many of you back in the house, even if it is just for a few days," Esme admitted as we followed her into the house.

Edward bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "It will be nice for us to see everyone, too, Mom."

"Emmett has been about to blow a gasket, because whatever secret he has, we all have to hear it at the same time. He thinks it just won't be the same if we all find out at different times," Esme told us with a grin.

"Mom, Emmett is always full of surprises. I think it's because he loves to be the center of attention," Edward chuckled.

"No doubt about that, Son," Esme said with a laugh. "I made sure that everything in your room was cleaned up for you and Bella, since it hasn't been lived in for a while," she told us as she led us to his room.

It had been what seemed a lifetime ago that I had been in this house and in Edward's bedroom. It still amazed me how much Edward and I both had changed and truly become well-centered adults.

As Esme opened the door, I was overcome with shock. This was not the room that I remembered. The once modern room that was nearly dark and harsh in its appearance was now open and earthy.

Where there had once been bleakness, now there was color and light. Where the colors were once oppressive, brilliant shades of emerald welcomed us. It was my favorite color, the color of Edward's eyes when he looked at me like I was the most important thing in his world.

"I'll leave you two to get settled. I'm making meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner. Alice and Jasper will be joining us in a few hours. Come down whenever you're ready," Esme said.

I dropped my bags by the door and went to run my hand over the green comforter. I turned to look at Edward. "I absolutely love this. When did this happen?" I asked as I motioned to the room.

"Recently," Edward smirked as he sat his bags down. "I'm glad you like it." I jumped up on the raised bed, landing with a plop on the lush mattress and my legs dangling but not quite touching the floor.

He walked to me and pulled me to him with his arms around my waist, putting himself between my legs.

"It's fantastic. It is so welcoming. What made you decide to change it?"

Edward sighed. "Love, this is the perfect room for who I am, who we are, now. I wanted us both to be comfortable here," he said as his fingers massaged my hips, and his lips kissed my forehead.

"It's perfect, baby," I whispered as I curled my arms around his neck. My hands stroked the fine hairs at his nape, and then I attacked his lips.

It didn't take long before we found ourselves lying on the bed with our lips passionately locked together, and our hands roamed aimlessly over each other's bodies.

"Edward, Bella, you're here!" Alice shouted cheerfully as she burst through the door in the whirlwind. "Oops!" she shrieked as she saw the precarious position Edward and I were in.

"Alice, what are you doing?" Jasper asked as he walked in. "Did you even bother to knock?" He demanded in an exasperated tone. He shook his head as he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. Alice looked giddy. I couldn't tell if it was from being in Jasper's arms or if she was truly happy about seeing Edward and me.

"Um, Mom told me to come up and tell them that dinner was ready, Jaz," Alice said in an attempt at being meek, although everyone could see through her. Being the only girl in the family, Alice knew how to play to win.

"Sorry, Edward, sorry, Bella. She took off before I had a chance to figure out what she was going to do," Jasper said with a grin.

I felt Edward's very big problem throbbing against my leg, and my mouth watered. I was a little pissed that we hadn't had a chance to take care of it yet. With his baby sister and his best friend in the room, our fun times were halted. I was hoping after they left that I could persuade Edward to give me a few minutes to give him some needed relief before we went to dinner.

"It's good to see you again, Jasper. You too, Alice," I added even though I wasn't too happy about seeing either of them right this minute.

"Hey, guys," Edward murmured over his shoulder.

"Can you please go tell Esme that we'll be down in just a few more minutes?" I asked them. I made eye contact with Jasper to help him get the picture so the room could be cleared out. I just might have enough time to help Edward with his dilemma.

"Sure thing, Bella. See you in a few. Come on, Ally. Let's help your mom get everything out on the table," Jasper said as he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her out the door.

"But, Jaz..." Alice whined, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Not gonna work this time, babe," Jasper said with a kiss on her nose. "It's not like they're going to go anywhere. We'll all have plenty of time to visit." The door closed behind them, and Edward finally rolled over on his back. He covered his eyes with his forearm and groaned.

"I told Mom that she should have stopped at twins. Emmett and I are enough of a handful. Alice is like an all-consuming black hole. She devours everyone and everything in her path by sucking them into her wants and desires. I wasn't anywhere near finished with you when she walked in, baby. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, E," I assured him as I kissed his jaw line. "I had much more planned for you, too. As a matter of fact, let me take care of this little issue for you." I ran my fingers down his chest to the button of his jeans. I licked my lips, and thought of letting him fuck my mouth. I was surprised when I was met with the resistance of Edward's hand halting my trip along his happy trail.

"Bella, I would love to finish this now, but everyone is downstairs waiting for us." I felt my brow furrow, and Edward stroked his fingers along the frown lines in my forehead. "Don't worry," he told me huskily. "We'll have plenty of time to take care of business later." He kissed one of the frown lines on my face and hopped out of bed.

"Sure we will," I mumbled. "As long as someone doesn't decide to barge in again without knocking." I begrudgingly let Edward help me off the raised bed.

He bent down and nipped my earlobe causing me to shiver. "We will not be interrupted again. As soon as we get back from dinner, I'm going to lock the door. If I even get an inkling that that isn't enough, I'll tell Jasper to kidnap Alice and keep her at his place for the night," Edward whispered in my ear.

"This is no way to distract me, Edward. You're just turning me on even more," I confessed to him as we walked downstairs.

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist. You know I know how to get you to turn that frown upside down," Edward said jokingly. "Truthfully, building the anticipation, thinking about all the ways I am going to make you cum tonight will make each and every orgasm I give you so much better. I will make you forget your own name," he promised me as his tongue darted along my pulse point at my neck making me whimper. "Oh my God," Edward moaned, the sound making me squeeze my legs together. "That meatloaf smells so damn good." He winked at me, and I pinched his ass in retaliation.

When we got to the dining room, I inwardly groaned. There were only two seats open with place settings. They were both beside Alice. Pushy much? I thought. Edward glanced at me sympathetically as we took our seats. As soon as the time presented itself, I was definitely going to sit Alice down and explain to her that we just couldn't go back to how things used to be. I knew it was going to be difficult for her to make the adjustment, but she was going to have to do it.

Conversation during dinner was awkward to say the least. Esme tried her best to keep the mood light. But between the sexual tension between Edward and me and the near animosity that Edward and I had towards Alice at the moment, nothing really helped.

Talking about being saved by the bell, Edward, the lucky bastard, took off from dinner early when Jake called to set up a time to take Billy fishing the next morning.

I didn't plan to stay at the table much longer. "Thanks for dinner, Esme. It was really delicious," I said. I was ready to head upstairs and help Edward give me those promised orgasms and to give him some of his own.

"I'm glad you liked it, dear. When would you like to sit down and plan all of the goodies we are going to prepare for dinner on Thursday?"

"Oh, Mom said that you are helping cook Thanksgiving dinner," Alice butted in. "It will be like old times, the two of you working in the kitchen together." Same old Alice. She had always wanted to be the center of attention. Edward and I banished the old times. We were living new lives and creating new memories.

"Yes, your mom asked, and there was no way I would pass up the opportunity to cook some of my favorite dishes," I told Alice. "How about tomorrow morning while Edward is fishing, Esme?" I suggested.

"I have a meeting in the morning. How about in the afternoon?" Esme asked.

"That works. I can force Edward to go to the store with me to pick up everything after we decide our menu," I responded.

"Perfect, Bella," Esme said. She began to clear the dishes and take them to the kitchen.

"I'm going to go see if Edward is up for a quick game of pool," Jasper said as he basically fled the uneasy atmosphere in the dining room.

I began to help clear the rest of the dishes when Esme came in and stopped me.

"Don't worry about helping me clean up tonight's dinner. I know you've had a long day, Bella. Why don't you two go watch the boys play pool? It's been so long since they played that there is bound to be some intense competition," Esme laughed as she returned to the kitchen.

As soon as I started towards the game room, I was stopped in my tracks when Alice touched my arm.

"What do you want, Alice?" I asked as I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at her boldness.

"I thought we could talk for a while," Alice murmured meekly. Good. I must have used more forcefulness with my question than I'd thought.

"I don't mean to be harsh and insensitive to you, but I am not your best friend anymore," I explained to her.

"Bella, I told you I was sorry for how I treated you after Edward's shooting."

"You did, Alice. I forgive you for that, but it's impossible for us to go back to how we were before just because you want to."

"I don't understand why not," Alice said defiantly.

"It's quite simple. I reached out to you when I had no one. There was no one that I could talk to, Alice. No one I could confide in. I was alone. I needed my best friend, and she pretended that I didn't exist. I will thank God everyday for the rest of my life that Jake and Emily came into my life when I needed someone to help me through some of the darkest moments of my life, because the person I expected to be there for me, who I needed to be there, wasn't."

She looked a little hurt, but I had to help her see the whole picture clearly. "Alice, neither of us is the same person we were when we were best friends. It's going to take time and patience for us to know the new people we have become. I love your brother, and I will be in his life forever, just as you will. In time, we can learn to be friends again. But you can't force this, Alice. You have to earn friendship. It is not just bestowed upon you just because you want it."

"You wouldn't even look at me during dinner," she moped.

I sighed and took a deep breath. "Do you not remember what you rudely interrupted when you burst into Edward's room? Edward and I were both just a tad frustrated during dinner," I told her. Alice blushed. "The first step into getting to know me is to make sure that you knock before you enter a closed door. You may see something that even brain bleach could never remove from your memory. If you had been just a few minutes later..."

"Okay, I get it! I get it!" She laughed as she closed her eyes trying to block out the picture that my words had put in her mind.

"Why don't we go see what our guys are up to? If I remember correctly, the last time the boys played pool, it almost ended in a blood bath."

We'd barely made it to the stairs when I heard Edward's raised voice.

"You're fucking cheating, Jasper. I see you moving my balls around so I can't make the shot," Edward almost snarled.

"I'm not doing a damn thing with your balls, Edward. You're just imagining things," Jasper complained.

"Edward, I know we were interrupted earlier, but you shouldn't let the first person who comes around fondle your balls just because I'm not around," I joked.

"That's fucking sick as hell, Bella," Jasper said as he wrapped his arms around Alice and kissed her soundly on the lips. I was pretty sure he was trying to make Edward and me as uncomfortable as we had made him earlier.

"My dearest love, my balls belong to you and no one else," Edward teased. As we kissed, I moved my hands down his chest to the waist of his jeans. I heard a throat clearing.

"Maybe we should sell tickets, Alice. It seems like they are more than willing to put on a show," Jasper grinned.

I squeaked as Edward shocked me by throwing me over his shoulder. He planted his hands on my ass and squeezed. "No way in hell, Jasper. This girl is mine," Edward exclaimed. "Goodnight, Jasper and Alice. It's time for Bella and me to call it a night."

Alice and Jasper were shaking with laughter as Edward began to carry me up the stairs.

"Edward, put me down. You're going to hurt your leg," I chided him. I was surprised by how effortlessly he was able to carry me up the first flight of stairs. "Okay, so you proved your point, baby. I can walk up the other flight of stairs." He changed my mind on that quickly as his hand pressed on my clit through my jeans. In a matter of seconds, I could feel myself growing restless with need for him. I was so wet that I had leaked through the denim. There was no fucking way that I could walk right now if I wanted to. Edward's hands had a way to turn my whole body to jelly.

Edward growled. I felt his thumb press my center and I moved my hips into the motion. "Fuck, love. I can feel and smell how much you want me right now. I think it's time that we finish what was so rudely interrupted earlier."

"Please," I whispered passionately as he entered his bedroom. I heard the lock turn and he threw me on the bed and stepped back to look at me.

"Are you ready for me, Bella?" The fire in his eyes created an inferno deep inside me that only he could quench. Edward moved towards the bed and devoured me from head to toe with his emerald eyes.

"Do you really have to ask?" I moaned as I grabbed the neck of his shirt and attacked his waiting lips.

The next morning, Edward pressed a kiss to my forehead as he left to go fishing.

"I love you, baby. I'll see you this afternoon," he whispered against my ear making me shiver.

"I love you, too, E." I closed my eyes and replayed last night in my mind. I decided that 69 was my new favorite number, and I couldn't wait to see 69 again very soon.

A/N: Emmett and Rose are coming. What surprise does Emmett have that he wants the entire family ready for? What other surprises await them during Thanksgiving vacation? Some major drama may be on the horizon. Anyone have a guess what it may be?

The story is starting to wind down, so if there is something that you want to see, let us know!

For those of you wanting Jake to have his HEA, he will have one. We even know who his love will be ;). She is really excited about it too!

Follow us on twitter at twidictedbyrd or our blog
twidictedbyrd . blogspot . com where you can see manips and our page of songs with all musical inspiration for all of our chapters.

R/R/R

We have donated a O/S to Fandom for Special Olympics. Visit fandom4specialolympics . blogspot . com to donate today.

We have a new story, New York Minute. As teenagers Bella and her best friend dream of meeting their celebrity crushes. When they find themselves living in New York after college, they find out dreams can come true in a New York minute.

Fic Recs:

Exposure by RandomCran